Karen B. Salmon, Ph.D.
State Superintendent of Schools
200 West Baltimore Street • Baltimore, MD 21201 • 410-767-0100 • 410-333-6442 TTY/TDD •
marylandpublicschools.org
Graduation Requirements for
Public High Schools in Maryland
OVERVIEW AND FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
MARCH 2018
Page 1 of 19
Page 2 of 19
Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3
I. Graduation Requirements
A. Credit ……………………………………………………………………………………….3
B. Service Learning………………………………………………………………………..…..4
C. Assessment ………………………………………………………………………………....4
1. Maryland High School Assessments …………………………………………………..4
2. Approved Alternative Assessments …………………………………………………..9
3. Bridge Plan for Academic Validation ……………………………………………….…9
4. Graduating Class of 2018- Assessment Requirements ……………………………….12
5. Graduating Class of 2019- Assessment Requirements ……………………………….13
6. Graduating Class of 2020- Assessment Requirements ……………………………….14
II. Frequently Asked Questions .................................................................................................. 15
A. Credits …………………………………………………………………………………….15
B. Participation Only vs. Pass Requirement ………………………………………………....16
C. Combined Score …………………………………………………………………………..18
D. Approved Alternative Assessments……………………………………………………….19
E. Bridge Plan for Academic Validation………………………………………………….….19
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Introduction
This document provides information to assist local school system staff members with implementation of
the graduation requirements currently in effect for students graduating in 2018, 2019, and 2020. See
COMAR 13A.03.02.00 – 12. Please see the Tool Kit on the MSDE website for College and Career
Readiness Requirements.
I. Graduation Requirements
There are three requirements that students must meet in order to graduate with a
Maryland High School Diploma:
● credit;
● service learning;
● assessment.
The local school system may also impose local requirements. See COMAR
13A.03.02.09(B)(2).
A. Credit
To be awarded a diploma, a student must earn a minimum of 21 credits, 18 of them in the subjects
below. See COMAR 13A.03.02.03B. Students must also complete an Environmental Literacy
Program. See COMAR 13A.03.02.03C.
1. English - four credits of organized instruction in comprehension of literary and
informational text, writing, speaking and listening, language, and literacy, of which one
credit shall be aligned with the Maryland High School Assessment for English;
2. Fine Arts - one credit in visual arts, music, theatre, or dance, or a combination of these;
3. Mathematics - three credits, including one with instruction in algebra aligned with the
Maryland High School Assessment for algebra or one or more credits in subsequent
mathematics courses for which algebra is a prerequisite, and one with instruction in
geometry aligned with the content standards for geometry;
4. Physical Education - one-half credit;
5. Health Education - one-half credit;
6. Science - three credits of organized instruction which includes a laboratory component
engaging in the application of the science and engineering practices, the crosscutting
concepts, and disciplinary core ideas including Earth/space science, life science,
physical science (chemistry and physics), and engineering, technology, and applications
of science, and aligned to the Maryland High School Assessment for science.
7. Social Studies - three credits including one credit in United States history, one credit in
world history, and one credit in local, state, and national government aligned with the
Maryland High School Assessment for government;
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8. Technology Education – one credit that includes the application of knowledge, tools,
and skills to solve practical problems and extend human capabilities; and
9. One of the following:
a. Two credits of world language or two credits of American Sign Language;
b. Two credits of advanced technology education; or
c. Successfully complete a state approved career and technology program.
While most students will earn credits in classes during the regular school day, there are several
other ways to earn credits. They are summer school, evening school, online courses, tutoring,
work-study, job entry training, college courses, independent study/internship, and credit through
examination. See COMAR 13A.03.02.04.
B. Service Learning
To be awarded a Maryland High School Diploma, a student must meet the service learning
requirements. A student must either complete 75 hours of student service or complete a locally
designed program in student service that has been approved by the state Superintendent. See
COMAR 13A.03.02.05.
C. Assessment
To be awarded a Maryland High School Diploma, a student must meet the graduation assessment
requirements. A student may meet the graduation assessment requirements in the following ways:
(1) by taking and passing the Maryland High School Assessments (MHSAs) in English
10, Algebra I, science and government; or
(2) by taking and passing approved alternative assessments for the MHSAs; or
(3) by successfully completing the Bridge Plan for Academic Validation; or
(4) through a waiver of the MHSA graduation requirement in certain circumstances.
1. The Maryland High School Assessments
Students take Maryland High School Assessments (MHSAs) if the student received
credit for taking any of the following courses aligned with the Maryland High School
Assessment. See COMAR 13A.03.02.06.
● English
● Algebra
● Science
● Government
"Maryland High School Assessments" means the HSA, PARCC, or other assessments in
algebra, science, English, and government developed or adopted by the Maryland State
Department of Education that are aligned with and measure a student's skills and
knowledge as set forth in the Maryland Standards for those subjects. See COMAR
13A.03.02.02.
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a. Overview of “Participation” versus “Pass” requirements
There are a variety of regulations that address whether a student need only
participate, but not pass, a particular MHSA. The participation only requirements
were instituted for MHSA English 10 and MHSA Algebra I during school years
2014-2015 and 2015-2016 to allow sufficient time for LEAs to make a complete
transition to the Maryland College and Career Ready standards. Likewise, the
participation only requirement was instituted for the HSA Biology in 2016-17,
and the High School Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (HS MISA) in
2017-18, and 2018-19 in order to account for the transition to the Maryland Next
Generation Science Standards. Thus, for some years and some assessments,
students are required only to participate, but not pass, the assessment.
The following regulations define the participation only requirements.
Students who took the MHSA English 10 and MHSA Algebra I in the
school years before the 2016-2017 school year needed only to
participate, but not pass. See COMAR 13A.03.02.06G (adopted June
2015) and 13A.03.02.09 (adopted February 2013).
Students graduating in 2017-2018 and who were first-time MHSA
English 10 and/or MHSA Algebra I test takers in those school years need
only participate, but not pass, the assessment. See COMAR
13A.03.02.06 and 09.
Students who took the HSA Biology in the 2016-2017 school year, only
needed to participate in the assessment; they did not need to earn a
passing score.
Students who take the HS MISA in the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 school
years, only need to participate in the assessment. They do not need to
earn a passing score.
To determine if a requirement applies to a student:
identify the year the student is expected to graduate;
identify the year in which the student first took the
assessment; and
consult the charts on pages 12 through 14 which will
indicate whether participation only or passing was
required the year the student first took the test.
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b. Passing Scores by School Year and Combined Score Options
i. Passing Scores for MHSA English 10 and MHSA Algebra I
Assessment/School Year
Algebra I Assessment
Cut Score
High School Assessments
(HSA) taken during
2013-2014
2014-2015
Algebra/ Data Analysis
Participation Only
PARCC Assessments
taken during
2014-2015
2015-2016
Participation Only
PARCC Assessments
taken during
2016-2017
2017-2018
2018-2019
2019-2020
2020-2021
2021-2022
2022-2023
Graduating 16-17 and
17-18: Participation
Only
First time ninth grader
2019-2020 and earlier:
725
First time ninth grader
2020-2021 and later:
750
Students graduating from high school in 2022-2023 or before need a
passing score of 725 on the MHSA English 10 and MHSA Algebra I.
Students graduating from high school in 2023-2024, who are first time
ninth graders in 2020-2021 and beyond, need a passing score of 750.
ii. High School Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (HS MISA)
Students were required to pass the HSA Biology every year until the 2016-
2017 school year. The passing score was 400.
For students who participated in the HSA Biology in school year 2016-
2017, the graduation requirement for Biology has been met. For all other
students, please refer to the following projected implementation process
and timeline.
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School Year 2017-2018
Students will be required to participate in the no fault field test for HS
MISA if they:
have met their LEA’s determination of readiness for HS MISA;
or
have not met their science assessment requirement as determined
by participation in the school year 2016-2017 administration of
the HSA Biology; or
have not completed a Biology Bridge Project for Academic
Validation by school year 2016-2017.
School Year 2018-2019
Students will be required to participate in the no fault operational test for
HS MISA if they:
have met their LEA’s determination of readiness for HS MISA;
or
have not met their science assessment requirement as determined
by participation in the school year 2017-2018 administration of
HS MISA.
School Year 2019-2020
Beginning in school year 2019-2020, to fulfill the science graduation
assessment requirement, students will be required to pass HS MISA.
iii. MHSA Government
The MHSA Government was eliminated in school year 2011-2012.
MHSA Government was reinstated in school year 2012-2013. Students in
the 2012-2013 school year were required to participate in MHSA
Government, but not pass. First-time test takers in school year 2013-2014
and beyond are required to earn a passing score of 394.
iv. Combined Score Option
A student must meet the assessment graduation requirement for English,
algebra, science and social studies using one of the described methods.
The “combined-score” option is one of the methods. See COMAR
13A.03.02.09(B)(3)(b). The combined-score option allows a student to
offset lower performance on one test with higher performance on
another. The student does not have to attain a minimum passing score on
each test. Scores from the PARCC assessments may not be combined
with scores from other High School Assessments.
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Combined Score Option
A. Combined Score-2 PARCC Assessments
Starting in 2016-2017 all current 7th-12th grade students may use the
following combined score option.
Combined minimum scores for English 10 and Algebra I = 1450
B. Combined Score- 4 Former HSAs
1602 for Algebra I, English 10, biology, government
C. Combined Score-3 Former HSAs
● 1208 for Algebra I, English 10, biology
● 1206 for Algebra I, biology, government
● 1190 for English, biology, government
● 1202 for English 10, Algebra I, government
D. Combined Score-2 Former HSAs
● 808 for English 10, Algebra I
● 812 for Algebra I and biology
● 806 for Algebra I and government
● 796 for English 10 and biology
● 790 for English 10 and government
● 794 for biology and government
With the variations in participation versus passing requirements over the last several years,
calculations of the combined-score options change from year to year.
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2. Approved Alternative Assessments
A second pathway to meeting the graduation assessment requirements is by substituting
MSDE-approved assessments for particular MHSAs. A student must achieve a passing
score on the Approved Alternative Assessment. See COMAR 13A.03.02.09(B)(3)(c);
Codified in 2005, re-codified in 2017, 13A.03.02.09(B)(3)(d). The list of MHSA
approved alternative assessments and passing scores are listed below:
MHSA
AP Exam
(Score of 3+)
IB Exam
(Score of 5+)
MHSA
(Score of 3+)
Algebra I
Calculus AB
Calculus BC
Statistics
Mathematical Studies
SL
Mathematics SL
Mathematics HL
Algebra II
English 10
English Language and
Composition
English Literature and
Composition
English A1
Government
United States
Government and
Politics
Biology
Biology
Biology SL
Biology HL
HS MISA
No substitute
assessments
No substitute
assessments
3. Bridge Plan for Academic Validation
The third way to meet the graduation assessment requirements is the Bridge Plan for
Academic Validation (Bridge Plan). A student who fails to achieve a passing score on
one or more assessments may be eligible to complete Bridge Projects in the assessment
areas. If the student completes the Bridge Project successfully, the graduation
assessment requirement is met for that assessment area. See COMAR 13A.03.02.06.
a. A student is eligible to use successful completion of a Bridge Project to satisfy
graduation assessment requirements if he/she:
i. failed one or more Maryland High School Assessments at least twice; and
ii. received credit in the course or courses related to the assessment or
assessments; and
iii. demonstrated overall satisfactory attendance in the most recent school
year completed; and
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iv. demonstrated satisfactory progress toward achieving the high school
diploma requirements specified in COMAR 13A.03.02.09B(1) and (2);
and
v. participated successfully in appropriate assistance after having failed one
or more of the Maryland High School Assessments.
b. A student may begin a Bridge Project after the first failure, but must take the
assessment a second time and fail in order to use the successful Bridge Project to
meet the graduation assessment requirement. See COMAR 13A.03.02.06.D.2
and.3
4. Waiver of the MHSA graduation assessment requirement
Sometimes situations occur that place a student in an extreme disadvantage in his/her
effort to meet the graduation requirement assessment requirement. In those particular
cases, pursuant to the regulatory requirements, a school principal may recommend to the
superintendent that a particular assessment requirement for an individual student be
waived. See COMAR 13A.03.02.09-1.E.
i. For such a waiver to be considered by a local superintendent, the following three
conditions must be satisfied.
1. The student has or will meet all other graduation requirements.
2. The student has or will take all required Maryland High School
Assessments before the graduation date.
3. The student participated in one or more interventions or remediation
opportunities, including the Bridge Plan.
ii. The student is prevented from meeting the Maryland High School Assessment
graduation requirements due to any of the following circumstances.
1. A decision made by the local school system concerning the provision
of appropriate assistance as required by COMAR 13A.03.02.06C.
2. A special, extraordinary, or extenuating circumstance or combination
of circumstances preceding the administration of the most recent
Maryland High School Assessment, such as a recent death in the
immediate family, a serious or prolonged illness or pregnancy with
medical complications, an accident causing serious injury, or a
destructive house fire.
3. The student moved to the United States in junior or senior year and is
literate in his/her native language but not literate in English.
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4. The student moved to Maryland in his/her senior year, has passed all
the Maryland High School Assessment courses, but has failed the
related Maryland High School Assessment, and has not had adequate
opportunity for intervention.
iii. The regulation governing the waiver process for assessment requirements
identifies the following dates on which certain waiver-related decisions are to
be made. See COMAR 13A.03.02.09-1.(E),(F),(G),(I).
1. By April 1, the principal “shall consider whether to recommend” a
student for an assessment waiver and on or about April 1 notifies the
parent and student that he/she “is being considered for a waiver.”
2. On or about May 1, the principal shall make his waiver
recommendations to the superintendent.
3. Sometime after May 1 but before graduation, the superintendent will
decide to grant or deny a waiver recommendation.
Note:
This regulation should not be interpreted to allow or to require a final waiver decision by
April 1. The regulation clearly intends a measured decision making process to extend into May
and possibly June. That time period gives students the opportunity to complete Bridge Projects
successfully or take an assessment and additional time to pass. A waiver decision in April
forecloses those learning opportunities to students.
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Assessment Requirements for Specific Graduating Classes
Assessment Requirements for Graduating Class of 2017-2018
(Entered 9
th
Grade in School Year 2014-2015)
School Year
in which
Assessment
was First
Taken
Biology/ Science
Assessment
Requirement Met By
English 10 Assessment
Requirement Met By
Algebra I Assessment
Requirement Met By
Government
Assessment
Requirement Met
By
2014-2015
(9
th
)
Achieve score of
400 on Biology
HSA; or
Combined-score; or
AP exam score of
3+;or
IB exam score of
5+; or
Pass the Bridge
Project
Students do not take the
English 10 assessment
until 10
th
grade.
Participation in Algebra
Data Analysis HSA or
the PARCC Algebra I
Assessment; or
AP exam score of 3+;or
IB exam score of 5+
No Bridge Requirement
Achieve score of
394; or
Combined-score
or
AP US
Government and
Politics exam
Score of 3+; or
Pass the Bridge
Project
2015-2016
(10
th
)
Achieve score of
400 on Biology
HSA; or
Combined-score; or
AP exam score of 3
+;or
IB exam score of
5+; or
Pass the Bridge
Project
Participation in
Assessment; or
AP exam score of
3+;or
IB exam score of 5+
No Bridge
Requirement
2016-2017
(11
th
)
Participation in
Biology HSA
Assessment; or
AP exam score of
3+;or
IB exam score of 5+
No Bridge
Requirement
2017-2018
(12
th
)
Participation in HS
MISA Assessment;
No Bridge
Requirement
AP and IB exams
are not acceptable
substitutions for HS
MISA.
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Assessment Requirements for Graduating Class of 2018-2019
(Entered 9
th
Grade in School Year 2015-2016)
School Year
in which
Assessment
was First
Taken
Biology/ Science
Assessment
Requirement Met By
English 10 Assessment
Requirement Met By
Algebra I Assessment
Requirement Met By
Government
Assessment
Requirement Met
By
2015-2016
(9
th
)
Achieve score of
400 on Biology
HSA; or
Combined-score; or
AP exam score of 3
+;or
IB exam score of
5+; or
Pass the Bridge
Project
Students do not take the
English 10 assessment
until 10
th
grade.
Participation in the
PARCC Algebra I
Assessment or the
Algebra Data Analysis
HSA (in earlier years)
or
AP exam score of 3+;or
IB exam score of 5+
No Bridge Requirement
Achieve score of
394; or
Combined-Score
or
AP US
Government and
Politics exam
score of 3+; or
Pass the Bridge
Project
2016-2017
(10
th
)
Participation in
Biology HSA
Assessment; or
AP exam score of
3+;or
IB exam score of
5+
No Bridge
Requirement
Achieve score of
725;
Combined score as
set by MSDE; or
AP exam score of
3+; or
IB exam score of
5+; or
Pass Bridge Project
Achieve score of 725;
Combined score as set
by MSDE; or
AP exam score of 3+;
or
IB exam score of 5+; or
Algebra II score of 725;
or
Pass Bridge Project
2017-2018
(11
th
)
Participation in HS
MISA Assessment;
No Bridge
Requirement
AP and IB exams
are not acceptable
substitutions for HS
MISA due to the
integrated nature of
the assessment.
2018-2019
(12
th
)
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Assessment Requirements for Graduating Class of 2019-2020
(Entered 9
th
Grade in School Year 2016-2017)
School Year
in which
Assessment
was First
Taken
Biology/ Science
Assessment
Requirement Met By
English 10 Assessment
Requirement Met By
Algebra I Assessment
Requirement Met By
Government
Assessment
Requirement Met
By
2016-2017
(9
th
)
Participation in
Biology HSA
Assessment; or
AP exam score of
3+; or
IB exam score of 5+
No Bridge
Requirement
Students do not take the
English 10 assessment
until 10
th
grade.
Achieve score of 725;
Combined score as set
by MSDE; or
AP exam score of 3+; or
IB exam score of 5+; or
Algebra II score of 725;
or
Pass Bridge Project
Note:
Students who took the
PARCC Algebra I or the
Algebra Data Analysis
Assessment prior to the 2016-
2017 school year met the
Algebra I Assessment
requirement through
participation.
Achieve score
of 394; or
Combined-
Score or
AP US
Government
and Politics
exam score of
3+; or
Pass the Bridge
Project
2017-2018
(10
th
)
Participation in HS
MISA Assessment;
No Bridge
Requirement
AP and IB exams are
not acceptable
substitutions for HS
MISA
Achieve score of
725;
Combined score as
set by MSDE; or
AP exam score of
3+; or
IB exam score of
5+; or
Pass Bridge Project
2018-2019
(11
th
)
2019-2020
(12
th
)
Pass HS MISA
Assessment
cut score TBD or
Pass Bridge Project
AP and IB exams are
not acceptable
substitutions for HS
MISA
Page 15 of 19
II. Frequently Asked Questions
A. Credits
1. Question: Can high school credits be earned in ways other than going to school during regular
days/year?
Answer: Yes. See COMAR 13A.03.02.04 Other Provisions for Earning Credit.
2. Question: Can a student earn a Maryland High School Diploma online?
Answer: No. Students cannot earn a high school diploma solely by completing online courses.
3. Question: Can online courses be accepted for credit by a school?
Answer: Yes, for students currently enrolled in a Maryland public school, credit can be awarded
for MSDE-approved online courses with LEA approval. See COMAR 13A.03.02.04.D.
4. Question: Must a local school system award high school credit to a middle school student who
completes a high school course?
Answer: Yes. Maryland law states that a county board shall award credit to a middle school
student for any course for which a high school student would be awarded credit if the middle
school student meets the same requirements as the high school student. See COMAR
13A.03.02.04
5. Question: Can a student exclude from the transcript an 8th grade course for which high school
credit was received?
Answer: No. If a student receives credit, the credit must appear on the transcript.
6. Question: What alternatives can local school systems offer/provide students so they can fulfill
graduation requirements?
Answer: At the discretion of the local school system superintendent, an alternative plan to fulfill
graduation requirements may be developed as described in COMAR 13A.03.02.11 Alternatives
for Structuring Programs. In addition, graduation requirements may also be fulfilled through the
Early College Admission Program or Admission to an Approved Vocational, Technical, or Other
Postsecondary School Program as described in COMAR 13A.03.02.10. See also COMAR
13A.03.02.04 Other Provisions for Earning Credit.
7. Question: Can students receive credits for subjects taken at a school when no official transcript
is available?
Answer: Yes. There are several ways as described in COMAR 13A.03.02.12.B(4)
Unavailability of Official Transcript. A local school system superintendent shall determine, by
an evaluation of a student, whether credits earned at a high school will be accepted at the public
high school to which the student transfers. This evaluation may include administration of
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standardized tests and examinations, observation of student in a classroom setting, and the use
of interviews, as well as the inspection of transcripts, report cards, and other documentation.
8. Question: Do credits in American Sign Language satisfy the requirement for credits in foreign
language?
Answer: Yes. COMAR 13A.03.02.03(B)(9)(a) allows students to earn two credits in foreign
language or two credits in American Sign Language. The COMAR regulation does not allow
students to meet the graduation requirement by taking one credit in world language and one credit
in American Sign Language.
9. Question: Does Computer Science satisfy the requirement for a credit in mathematics?
Answer: Yes. COMAR 13A.04.12.01(j) defines the Maryland Mathematics Program. The
regulation includes reference to Computer Science coursework. The list of mathematics course
offerings includes both “AP© Computer Science” and “a computer science course that is not
AP© Computer Science to satisfy the requirement for a credit in mathematics if the local school
system determines the course meets the mathematics standards required by this regulation.”
10. Question: Does Computer Science satisfy the requirement for a credit in technology
education?
Answer: Yes. The following Computer Science courses are acceptable: Exploring Computer
Science, Foundations of Computer Science, and Advanced Placement (AP©) Computer Science
Principles. Please note that Computer Science courses used to satisfy the credit requirements of
a Career and Technology Education (CTE) Program of Study can only be applied once. If a
Computer Science course is used to satisfy the technology education credit requirement, it may
not be used to satisfy the requirements of a CTE Computer Science Program of Study. Please
consult the local CTE Director for further guidance on how to complete the MSDE curriculum
alignment tool to identify additional Computer Science courses that satisfy the technology
education credit requirement.
11. Question: Can one course be used to satisfy two graduation credit requirements?
Answer: No. Awarding two credits for one course is never allowed to meet graduation credit
requirements.
12. Question: What happens if a student takes an MHSA Algebra I assessment, which is a
graduation requirement, before entering high school?
Answer: The student satisfies his/her mathematics assessment graduation requirement by
meeting the criteria in effect during the school year in which the mathematics assessment was
first taken.
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B. Participation Only vs. Pass Requirement
13. Question: What is the regulatory basis for participation only versus the passing score
requirement in the school years set forth in the charts?
Answer: There is a cohort of students in various grades who took Algebra I and/or English 10
and the aligned assessments in school years prior to the 2016-2017 school year, passed the course
but failed the assessment aligned with the course. The regulations, in effect at the time student
was assessed, offered students who took the aligned English 10 and Algebra I, assessments in the
years of transition to the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards exemption from high
stakes testing.
Students who earned an Algebra I and/or English 10 credit prior to the 2016-2017 school year,
but failed to earn a passing score on a HSA or PARCC Algebra I and/or English 10 assessment
met his/her graduation requirements related to assessments in English and mathematics by taking
the assessments. These students are exempt from completing Bridge Projects.
The HS MISA receives similar exemption from high stakes testing. The participation versus pass
requirements related to the high school science assessment are summarized on pages 6-7.
14. Question: In school years in which participation only is the graduation requirement, if a student
took English 10 and/or Algebra I courses and the related assessment, but ultimately failed the
course, does he/she need to retake the assessment in a subsequent year to graduate?
Answer: No. If a student takes the assessment in the year that he/she takes Algebra I or English
10 and the participation requirement is met, but does not earn the credit for that year, and has to
retake Algebra I or English 10 in the following year, he/she does not have to retake the
assessment.
15. Question: Does the exemption from passing the assessments extend to all English 10 and
Algebra I test takers 2017-2018?
Answer: No. The exemption to passing the English 10 and the Algebra I assessments was
given only to students who graduated in School Years 2016-2017 or 2017-2018 and who were
first-time test takers of those assessments in those school years. See COMAR 13A.03.02.06G.
Those students need only to have participated in the assessments to have met the graduation
assessment requirement.
16. Question: Is a student who is graduating in 2017-2018 eligible for the first-time test taker
exemption to passing the assessment if he/she took the English 10 and/or Algebra I assessment
in the 2016-2017 school year, his/her junior year? See COMAR 13A.03.02.09(C).
Answer: Yes. A student graduating in 2017-2018 is exempt from the passing requirements
established for English 10 and Algebra I even if he/she took those assessments for the first time
in his/her junior year (2016-2017). The regulation states that “students who are graduating in
school years 2016-2017 and 2017-2018, who are first-time test takers during those school years,”
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are exempt from passing those assessments. This includes first-time test takers in school year
2016-2017 who will graduate in 2017-2018.
17. Question: What about students who are graduating in School Year 2018-2019?
Answer: Students who are graduating in School Year 2018-2019, who took English 10 or
Algebra I for the first time during 2016-2017 or 2017-2018, must meet the passing score or
combined-score requirement in place during the first year they took the assessment or
successfully complete the requirements of the student’s Bridge Project to graduate.
18. Question: Is the passing score in the year the student first took the test but failed, the passing
score a student must meet in any retakes of assessment?
Answer: Yes, the passing score in the year in which the student first took the assessment remains
the target passing score the student must achieve on any subsequent assessment retake, even if
the passing score in the year of the re-take is higher.
C. Combined-Score
19. Question: Can a student take an assessment multiple times in order to raise his/her score to meet
the combined-score passing option?
Answer: Yes, but there is no mandate to provide additional instructional assistance if the student
has already passed the MHSA. Additional instructional assistance must be offered to students
who do not achieve the passing score on the MHSA before they can retake the test.
20. Question: When a student retakes an assessment and scores lower than the first time, which score
counts toward the combined-score?
Answer: The higher score counts toward the combined-score.
21. Question: Can a student use the combined-score option regardless of how many assessments the
student actually passes?
Answer: Yes.
22. Question: Is the local school system required to offer the combined-score option for students?
Answer: Yes. COMAR 13A.03.02.09B(3)(b) provides the combined-score option for students.
All students must have access to all the scoring options provided under the regulations.
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D. Approved Alternative Assessments
23. Question: Can a student satisfy his/her English and/or algebra assessment graduation
requirements using a means other than earning a passing score on the Maryland High School
Assessment or by successfully completing a Bridge Project? Can high school students opt to
substitute certain AP and IB tests for English and algebra High School Assessments?
Answer: Yes, students can satisfy their English and algebra assessment graduation requirements
using an MSDE Approved Alternative Assessment. See page 9.
E. Bridge Plan for Academic Validation
24. Question: When should a Bridge Project be scored in light of the stipulation that a student must
take and fail an assessment twice before a successfully completed Bridge Project may be used to
satisfy a Maryland Assessment Graduation requirement but can start a Bridge Project after one
failure answer, when should a Bridge Project be scored?
Answer:
It is acceptable to score the project before or after the retake of the assessment. However the
score cannot be submitted in lieu of the assessment until the second attempt. The new projects
are designed as a tool that provides the "appropriate assistance to strengthen areas of weakness"
mandated by COMAR 13A.03.02.06.C.
25. Question: What happens if there is no opportunity to retake the failed assessment due to
scheduling errors?
Answer: The second attempt regulation could be waived if a waiver request is made by the local
superintendent to the State Board under COMAR 13A.01.01.02-1. In the waiver process, the
State Superintendent receives the waiver request and makes a recommendation to the State Board
to grant or deny the waiver.